College's slave statue is back on campus

A day after state Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, pledged to return a $25,000 statue owned by Chicago State University, "Defiance" had a new home on the 4th floor of the college's library.

Two Chicago State employees with a hand truck carried the bronze statue out of Davis' office Thursday night, hours after she held a news conference to explain how she obtained the artwork, according to university spokeswoman Felicia Horton.

Davis said her boyfriend, who bought the statue with state money when he worked at a financial aid agency on campus, heard after the program was closed down that the statue had been warehoused. He took the statue to Davis' office.

On Friday, the statue stood in a sun-lit reading area that many administrators, students and university guests pass through.

Students said they welcomed the statue, which portrays a life-size, shackled female slave, half disrobed so buyers could inspect the merchandise.